1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Split Second. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?”
The play takes place in New York City. It takes place during the span of roughly two days in early July. Val Parker, a black cop, shoots an unarmed racist white man by the name of William Willis. This is after Willis makes offensive remarks to Val. The play then focuses on the consequences of the shooting. Val is unsure of whether to lie that it was self-defense or to tell the truth. His wife, Alea, says he should cover it up, while his dad Rusty says he should tell the truth.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? Be careful when citing the intrustion, it may not be where you initially think it is.
I believe the intrusion is when Val lies to Parker about what actually happened with himself(Val) and Willis.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
This is the day Val shoots Willis after Willis makes some extremely racist remarks. He then tries to cover it up by saying Willis came and tried to attack him.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will Val eventually tell the truth of what actually happened between him and Willis? If he does, what happens as a result of it? More specifically, does he go to jail, etc?
5. Use Val to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what Val wants (NOTE: In Split Second the wants of Val are in flux and he is being swayed by his father, his wife, his friend, and his colleague at work. His wants seem to change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that the character encounters.
Me against an individual: Val wants the racist Willis to be taken to jail to keep things in order. However the obstacle he faces is that Willis is pushing his buttons by making racist comments, which aggravates Val, which causes Val to do something he normally wouldn’t have done.
Me against myself: Val is conflicted of whether he should tell of what actually happened or whether he should just lie to save himself.
Me against society: Val is trying to make it as a cop. However, he lives during a very racist time period so must deal with the adversity and oppression black people have to deal with in this time period.
Me against fate: Val wants to have a bright future. However, due to bad judgement during a split second, he has to deal with a situation that might jeopardize his future.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Split Second.
The most theatrical moment in the play is the beginning scene. Val and Willis get into a heated argument. Willis constantly pushes his buttons by saying extremely racist and offensive remarks to Val which eventually makes Val shoot Willis in anger. It is a very climactic scene, I feel, as it determines the rest of the events of the play. It also gives the reader/audience a very good idea of all the racism that takes place in the given time period.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Split Second. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
One image is the gun that Val uses to shoot Willis. The gun shot takes in a split second which then negatively affects the future of Val as well as Willis(he dies). Another image is Val’s uniform. I feel as it shows his dedication to the job. The dedication is hurt by what he does to Willis however, due to the split second. I personally feel that Val is an image himself. He represents the discrimination that still takes place in the society which is shown by his encounter with Willis and that causes the split second to take place.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Split Second.
Themes in this play, include racism, doing what is right versus what you want, as well as justice.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Split Second?
We learn a lot about family through the relationship between Val and his father. Rusty is obviously disappointed in what Val has done but wants him to do the right thing. This affects their relationship in a bad way. We also see how his father was a big influence on him becoming a cop as well. We learn of family through the relationship between Val and his wife Alea as well. We see that Alea wants Val to do the opposite of what Rusty says. She wants him to lie.
The play takes place in New York City. It takes place during the span of roughly two days in early July. Val Parker, a black cop, shoots an unarmed racist white man by the name of William Willis. This is after Willis makes offensive remarks to Val. The play then focuses on the consequences of the shooting. Val is unsure of whether to lie that it was self-defense or to tell the truth. His wife, Alea, says he should cover it up, while his dad Rusty says he should tell the truth.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? Be careful when citing the intrustion, it may not be where you initially think it is.
I believe the intrusion is when Val lies to Parker about what actually happened with himself(Val) and Willis.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
This is the day Val shoots Willis after Willis makes some extremely racist remarks. He then tries to cover it up by saying Willis came and tried to attack him.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will Val eventually tell the truth of what actually happened between him and Willis? If he does, what happens as a result of it? More specifically, does he go to jail, etc?
5. Use Val to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is, dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what Val wants (NOTE: In Split Second the wants of Val are in flux and he is being swayed by his father, his wife, his friend, and his colleague at work. His wants seem to change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that the character encounters.
Me against an individual: Val wants the racist Willis to be taken to jail to keep things in order. However the obstacle he faces is that Willis is pushing his buttons by making racist comments, which aggravates Val, which causes Val to do something he normally wouldn’t have done.
Me against myself: Val is conflicted of whether he should tell of what actually happened or whether he should just lie to save himself.
Me against society: Val is trying to make it as a cop. However, he lives during a very racist time period so must deal with the adversity and oppression black people have to deal with in this time period.
Me against fate: Val wants to have a bright future. However, due to bad judgement during a split second, he has to deal with a situation that might jeopardize his future.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Split Second.
The most theatrical moment in the play is the beginning scene. Val and Willis get into a heated argument. Willis constantly pushes his buttons by saying extremely racist and offensive remarks to Val which eventually makes Val shoot Willis in anger. It is a very climactic scene, I feel, as it determines the rest of the events of the play. It also gives the reader/audience a very good idea of all the racism that takes place in the given time period.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Split Second. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
One image is the gun that Val uses to shoot Willis. The gun shot takes in a split second which then negatively affects the future of Val as well as Willis(he dies). Another image is Val’s uniform. I feel as it shows his dedication to the job. The dedication is hurt by what he does to Willis however, due to the split second. I personally feel that Val is an image himself. He represents the discrimination that still takes place in the society which is shown by his encounter with Willis and that causes the split second to take place.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Split Second.
Themes in this play, include racism, doing what is right versus what you want, as well as justice.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Split Second?
We learn a lot about family through the relationship between Val and his father. Rusty is obviously disappointed in what Val has done but wants him to do the right thing. This affects their relationship in a bad way. We also see how his father was a big influence on him becoming a cop as well. We learn of family through the relationship between Val and his wife Alea as well. We see that Alea wants Val to do the opposite of what Rusty says. She wants him to lie.